The Rise of the Indo-Pacific: ‘Pacifying’ the Indian Ocean Region

Abstract

This paper aims at critically assessing the 'new' mappings of the Indian Ocean space(s) by the intellectuals and institutions of statecraft. A key point that the authors wishes to highlight is that the content of the regional security debate and responses in Australia is primarily a reflection of three competing security constructions of the Indian Ocean Region. The first is an all-embracing concept of an Indian Ocean Region comprising up to 51 states at its largest scale to the presently 19 states at the scale of the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation. The second is a scaled-down version of the first into the East Indian Ocean. The third and largest in area is an Indo-Pacific concept which emphasises the preeminence of regional naval power and ensures that India potentially plays a central policing role not only within the Indian Ocean Region.